17
2011
Can We Please Stop Reporting That Sandy Alderson Is Shopping Jon Niese?
An article by 
Sometimes it just boggles my mind how some bloggers can’t seem to differentiate between a writer’s speculation or a legitimate rumor. Case in point are these recent Jon Niese to Colorado for Seth Smith rumors.
Before I tear into the heart of these outlandish attempts to fire up the fan base, let me begin with an actual rumor that nobody seemed to key in on.
This a legitimate rumor:
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported via Twitter that the Mets told the Oakland Athletic’s that they will not include Jon Niese, Ike Davis, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Jenry Mejia or Jeurys Familia in any trade.
This is reported as a matter of fact, it makes sense, there’s no question or vagueness about it, and Heyman stakes his own reputation on it.
Everyone seemed to ignore this legitimate piece of information from one of the best baseball insiders on the planet.
This is speculation:
Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports writes: With Cuddyer in right and Gonzalez in left, the Rockies could have a major offseason move remaining by shopping Seth Smith for a starting pitcher. Mets lefty Jonathan Niese is believed to be available in a package built around Smith.
This not being reported as a matter of fact, it doesn’t make sense, it’s questionable and vague, and Ringolsby is not staking his reputation on anything other than Niese is believed “but not known” to be available.
And yet everyone ran with this as if Alderson was on the phone trying to peddle his 25-year old left-hander for a 29-year old part-time outfielder.
* * * * * * * * * *
For crying out loud, just the other day at the Mets Holiday Party, to a group of a dozen Mets bloggers, Sandy Alderson said as boldy as one could proclaim “Niese is in our plans for 2012.”
So last night, MetsBlog sets the blogosphere and twitterverse ablaze by passing off a writer’s mere speculation as a legitimate trade rumor. Unbelievable.
This morning, they post a retraction and say “Niese Is Not Available.”
Well, duh…
I mean let’s get real here… If your going to pass yourself off as a “Grand Central Station for Mets Information”, why confuse your readers by suggesting Alderson would be stupid enough to trade arguably his best young left-handed starter for what is now the Rockies’ fourth outfielder?
Does every piece of garbage that is disseminated on the web have to get posted?
Is there some sort of positing quota from SNY that has to be adhered to?
I mean, how does stuff like this make it past the editing process?
I would love to tear into this some more, but why should I? Let the MetsBlog readers speak for themselves:
ritz - This is pure speculation. Do you think the same GM that’s rumored to want d’Arnaud and turned half a season of Beltran into Zack Wheeler would trade Niese for a package where Seth Smith is the headliner? I sure don’t.
Imissshea - Good left handing pitching that is cheap and under control has to be worth a heck of a lot more to a team than a 29 year old part time outfielder.
mike9986 - I just can’t see how giving up Niese for someone who might very well be a part-time player makes sense. I also can’t really see how trading Niese, period, makes sense. He’s young, cheap, and if he’ll never be an ace, he could wind up being a #2 guy.
mistermet - I don’t believe this for a second. It makes no sense for a rebuilding team to acquire a 29 year old platoon outfielder for a young starting pitcher. I have to assume this is just really poor speculation.
Barons_Glasses - Baron is getting ridiculous, if you don’t have anything credible don’t post anything at all, or just post some cornball memory lane stuff
Pedros_Rooster - I think most folks are expressing frustration at (a) the dumbness of a former BBWAA president circulating such dreck, and (b) Metsblog for perpetuating it. Oh, and some probably worry that this could come to fruition (stranger things have happened).
This isn’t the end of it…
Believe it or not there is a new post over there entitled, “Why are the Mets looking to trade Jon Niese?”
They’re not!
Alderson will listen to offers for anyone including Niese, Wright, Wheeler, Duda, anybody! That’s what any good GM does… He listens… That does not mean he is actively shopping everyone around.
Fact #1 – Sandy Alderson said Jon Niese will be in the 2012 rotation.
Fact #2 – Jon Heyman reported that Sandy Alderson told the A’s that Niese was not available.
END OF STORY.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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Thank you, Joe. Thank you.
For the record I just checked and Niese is still on the 40 man roster.
Those folks who blog for SNY and Metsblog have to do something to warrant their salary. If there is no news they make some up. But seriously, you cant take any of it seriously and I’m very serious about that.
Thank You!
Also we aren’t getting Gonzalez either, that one can be put to be as well.
You can also add this to your post Joe D.
It’s from MLBTR:
New York would have to be “knocked out” to trade Niese, who is not yet arbitration eligible and owns 286 strikeouts and 106 walks in 331 innings over the past two seasons. His ERA is a pedestrian 4.30 in that time, though his 49.5% groundball rate and advanced metrics like FIP (3.75) and SIERA (3.67) tell a different story.
very well said Joe, they are the grand central station for everyone else’s Mets information lol
It never made sense to me to trade Niese, and I’m glad that the rumor is being called out on what it is- merely a rumor. Jon Niese is a guy will hopefully advance his game to the next level and be the center piece of this rotation for many years to come.
You’re exactly right Joe D. Metsblog has become a tabloid.I don’t know where Cerrone gets his writers from but they’re killing a once very good site. Does anybody really believe they would trade Niese for Seth Smith when they wouldn’t include Niese for Gio Gonzalez.
good piece. Listening to offers is part of the job, but obviously is not the same as shopping some guy (are as some posters ran with it, “looking to dump him”).
but, as the deal that just went down for Latos shows, if you troll a guy out theer you might get a big fish to bite!
Man, the mets need a stud catcher of the future.
They have become a laughing stock. The comments over there are 90% calling them out all the time and there is no more good convo like it used to be. They are like the National Enquirer of Mets blogs now and you just go there for laughs not real news.
But Jessep told us Niese was old and over the hill at 27!!! That was right here on MMO. Looks like he was just running with the BAD story after all. Ahhh, too bad!
I wonder if Sandy has plans for him on the 2013 Roster?
I accept that Sandy has shot down the trade rumors in quotes.
What I don’t accept is Sandy is actually telling the truth!
I mean after saying re-signing Reyes is a priority and then never making a single offer why should I buy what he is saying?
So far he has said he doesn’t foresee trading Wright this winter (nothing about spring or summer) and that Niese will be a part of the 2012 rotation (all of it or just the first three months? What about 2013?)
Note how every attempt to shoot down a trade rumor is followed by a deadline that can expire so he can trade them in the next year and a half.
Thats my problem, not that there is any real teeth to the rumors but the response to them is always qualified with a short term expiration date!
Pretty much saying no BUT don’t hold me to that truth once the expiration date happens and that expiration date is always less than a year away!
Joe, I agree that all the rumors are ridiculous and have been saying it for a while now. The problem is, MMO has been responsible for some of the gas on this fire.
How many articles have come out in the last week here embracing the rumors trading him or Davis? Has to be around 10. Either echoing them or commenting on them as if they are happening.